Sandy versus Katrina, and Irene: Monster Hurricanes by the Numbers

Sandy is already the largest hurricane to ever hit the U.S. mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. How does it compare with Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29, 2005, and is considered the most destructive hurricane in U.S. history? And what about Irene, which came ashore on North Carolina on Aug. 27, 2011, and caused record flooding across eastern New York and Vermont after several subsequent landfalls as a tropical storm? Here are some telling numbers. And see the links below for some of the best sites for tracking Sandy yourself.

STATISTICS UPON U.S. LANDFALL

Strength

Katrina: Category 3 (Louisiana)

Irene: Category 1 (North Carolina)

Sandy: Category 1 (New Jersey)

Top Wind Speed

Katrina: 125 mph

Irene: 85 mph

Sandy: 94 mph

Diameter (extent of high winds)

Katrina: 400 miles

Irene: 520 miles

Sandy: 940 miles

Atmospheric Pressure

Katrina: 920 millibars (lower is stronger)

Irene: 951 millibars

Sandy: 940 millibars (lowest ever to make landfall north of North Carolina)